Wall hanger

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed the use of a continuous strip of adhesive tape narrowed on itself at a central region thereof as a hanger for supporting pictures and the like in conjunction with a picture hook and a protrusion from a wall. The central portion is elongated to facilitate adjustment of the picture on the wall, and in this embodiment is overwound with a strand for structural integrity and ease of manufacture. This system has more mechanical stability than pure double-back adhesive hangers and does not have the disadvantage of adhesive strips provided with eyelets which preclude balancing the picture.

United States Patent [1 1 Tendler [4 1 Feb. 25, 1975 1 WALL HANGER [21]Appl. No.: 400,662

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.235,174, March 16,

1972, Pat. No. 3,788,558.

[52] U.S. Cl 248/467, 16/125, 248/498 [51] Int. Cl. A47g 1/24, A471 7/14[58] Field of Search 16/114 B, 125; 229/52 A, 229/52 AC, 52 AL; 248/498,467

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,586 4/1884 Edison 16/125UX 1,519,610 12/1924 Franz 229/52 AL X 2,021,788 11/1935 Janowitz 229/52A 3,031,359 4/1962 Blank et al. 229/52 AL 3,250,562 5/1966 Frasure et al229/52 A X 3,298,655 1/1967 Palm 248/498 3,801,012 4/1974 Thelen- 229/52AL X D101,658 10/1936 Weber 16/125 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS775,124 10/1934 France 229/52 AL 187,902 11/1922 Great Britain 16/125Primary ExaminerD0nald A. Griffin [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed theuse of a continuous strip of adhesive tape narrowed on itself at acentral region thereof as a hanger for supporting pictures and the likein conjunction with a picture hook and a protrusion from a wall. Thecentral portion is elongated to facilitate adjustment of the picture onthe wall, and in this embodiment is overwound with a strand forstructural integrity and ease of manufacture. This system has moremechanical stability than pure double-back adhesive hangers and does nothave the disadvantage of adhesive strips provided with eyelets whichpreclude balancing the picture.

22 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures F TAPE, I5

HOOK, [6

2| ADHESIVE SIDE, 20

V Fig. 2

HOOK l6 TAPE l5 ADHESIVE SIDE, 2O

WUNTING BOARD, ll

Fig. 3

L .4 so

, Fig. 4

Fig. 5

PATENTED FEB? 51975 3, 868 O 8 6' sum 3 g 5 Fig. 7

WALL HANGER REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is acontinuation in-part of application Ser. No. 235,174 entitled WallHanger, filed Mar. 16, 1972 now US. Pat. No. 3,788,558 issued Jan. 29,1974.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method andapparatus for hanging pictures and the like and more particularly to ahanger comprising a continuous strip of adhesive tape narrowed,collapsed or twisted on itself at a central region, with the ends of thetape adapted to adhere to the structure which is to be mounted. Theportion of this tape which is narrowed on itself is made to lie in a region midway between the sides of the structure to be mounted on the walland is engaged by a hook or a protrusion from the wall to permithanging.

In the past there have been several methods of mounting pictures towalls involving adhesive members. Most recent of these involves the useof a double sticky back tape. Depending on the tape used, pictures orposters mounted in this manner eventually either become disengaged fromthe wall or stick to the wall in such a manner thatremoval is madeextremely difficult without damaging the wall or the picture. It will beappreciated in this type of adhesive mounting structure, that accuratecentering is required since adjustment after the structure is mounted isdifficult. In addition, there is no mechanical connection between thehanged structure and the wall such as would be provided by a protrusionfrom the wall such as a picture hook or nail.

Another common adhesive type picture hanging structure is shown in U.S.Pat. 2,647,71 l issued to J. M. Margulis on Aug. 4,1953. In this methodan adhesive strip is attached to the structure to be mounted. Theadhesive strip is provided with an eyelet through which a metal hookattached to a further adhesive strip protrudes. The metal eyeletprovides structural strength against tearing of the tape when the holein the tape is slipped over the hook. It will be appreciated that thistype of mounting mechanism suffers from the same defeet as the firstmentioned mounting method in that proper centering and balancing isrequired when the adhesive strip is placed on the structure to bemounted. strip no easy means of adjustment is provided once the stri isin place.

In contrast to these two methods of mounting structures on a wall, thesubject system involves a continuous adhesive tape which is eithernarrowed or twisted on itself at a central region. This central regionis elongated and is adapted to engage a hook or protrusion on the wall.The elongated portion serves much the same function as the traditionalwire used in picture hanging, in that adjustment of the picture on thewall is accomplished by changing the fulcrum by sliding the hook alongthe elongated portion. In contrast to conventional wire techniques, noscrews, nails or other protruding means need be attached to a picture tosupport a wire. Further, in the subject invention, structural strengthis added to the tape by the twisting of the tape on itself so that noadditional apparatus such as wire, string or the like is required.Additionally, the manufacture of such a hanging device is extremelysimple in that all that is necessary is to form tape with adhesive onone side and then to twist the adhesive tape on itself at a givenregion. It will be appreciated that there are no metal parts necessaryto complicate the manufacturing process. Although initially it mightseem that tape used in this manner would come off of the structure to bemounted, it has been found that this particular method and apparatusholds heavy structures in place on a wall for considerable lengths oftime. Although this particular mounting system was adapted primarily formounting picture board of a light weight nature to a wall, it has beenfound that due to the availability of strong tear resistant andextremely adherent tapes, structures of considerable weight may bemounted in this manner. Part of the explanation of the success of thismounting system is due to the combination of a mechanical-adhesivemounting system in which a hook is mechanically and fixedly attached tothe wall while the mounting tape is adhesively mounted on the structureto be hanged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide apparatus for hanging a structure on a wall including a piece ofcontinuous tape narrowed on itself in a central region which tape ismounted on the structure to be supported, the central region of the tapebeing adapted to engage a hook or protrusion from the wall.

It is another object of this invention to provide the combination of ahook mechanically mounted on a wall and a continuous piece of adhesivetape adapted to be affixed to the structure to be mounted on the wall,

vwhich tape is twisted on itself in a central region.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method forhanging a structure on a wall comprising the steps of taking acontinuous piece of adhesive tape and twisting it on itself so to form acentral region and adhering the tape to the structure to be supported onthe wall.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method formounting a structure to a wall comprising the steps of twisting anadhesive tape on itself so as to form a central region, affixing theadhesive tape to the structure to be mounted, affixing a mechanicalprotrusion to the wall, and placing the central twisted portion of thetape over the protrusion.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for hanging a structure on a wall including a piece ofcontinuous tape narrowed on itself in a central region which is overlaidwith material for increasing the structural integrity of the centralregion and permitting ease of manufacture.

Other objects of the invention will be better understood from theaccompanying specification, drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagramatic representationshowing a picture hung on a wall showing'the mounting apparatus indotted outline;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the tape utilized as the mountingmeans, showing the tape twisted on itself so as to form a central regionand showing the engagement of a hook with the central region, which hookmay be moved in a lateral direction so as to permit balancing of thepicture on the wall;

FIG. 3 is a top view, of the structure to be mounted to a wall showingin side view the tape and the hook utilized in mounting the structuretothe wall;

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodimentof tape con figuration in which anarrow central portion is formed and in which the transition-from thenarrow central curve;

portion to a wider portion is made in a continuous,

FIG. 5 is afurther embodiment showings tapecom figuration in whichbiaxial integral supporting strips are mounting apparatus; 7 g

' FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the use of biaxially oriented separatepieces of tape which may be used to support the structure to be mounted.

7 provided to add strength to the tape portionof the w ial forceiashereinbefore definedtdoes not cause the I tape to rip or tear Nor doesthe force result in a shear force ofsuch a magnitude soas to cause thetape to separate from the structureto be mounted. It willbe thereforeappreciated that acontinuoustapetwisted on f t itself in and. ofitself,; withoutimechanical or metal bracesis sufficient along tobe;used with a hookasshown In FIGJZ. r

' ,Itwill be apparent that theadhesive qualitiesof the tape as wellasthe width or the tape" and the material of which the tape is madewillmaterially determinelthe weightof thestructure which can be mountedin this manner. Itis however well within the state of the art to FIG. 7is a diagram showing the central .portionof the V tape helically woundwith a strand;

FIG. 8 is a'diagram showing a twisted central tape portion overwoundwith a strand;

- FIG. 9 is a diagramshowing a narrowed central tape,

portion overwound with a strand; and

FIG. 10 is a partial cross sectional diagram showing 7 a central tubularportion overlaid with a coating layer. DETAILED. DESCRIPTIONOF TI-IEINVENTION Referring to FIG. I, there is shown a pictureIO mountedon amounting board ll which is fixedly at utilize tape to support structuresof "considerable weight. Examples of such tapes aresho wn'in U.S. Pat.

Nos." 2,647,71] issued Aug. 4, I953 and 3,294,355 is sued Dec. '27,1966.

In general, tapes suited for this application fall into threecategories: pressurese'nsitive, water-activated,.

andheat-sensitive. The pressure-sensitive tapes generally'use rubberbase or ac rylicadhesives, on backing. j materials such as acctatc,cellophane, polyester, vinyl, cloth and paper. Theseqtapesmaybereinforced as in u f r the case of acetate andpolyester backingmaterials by tached to a wall shownby the, referencecharacter ll, Theadhesive tape mounting apparatus is shown in dotted outline bycontinuous tapelSrA hook isshown at 16 to be mechanically attachedtothewall'. The structure 11 is supported by the engagement of the hook"with a central portion 17 of the continuous tape 15 which centralportion is a portion of the tape twisted on itself. As illustrated inFIG. 2 in one form the central portion is a helically wound generallycylindrical porusing fiber reinforcing materials such as rayonor glassr.

Thewaterractivated tapes usually use paper or cloth backing materialsincombination with'animal or vegetable glues includingcasein and starch.These tapesare wetted prior to applying the tape to. the. back'of a pic-I ture The heat-sensitive tapes are made from the thermosetting ,typeresins which need only heat to cure.

Heat-sensitive tapes are in general made from polyes tion which may bemade to adhere to itself for strength as described hereinafter. The termadhesive tape as used hereinrefers generally to pressuresensitive tapes,

water-activated, tapes and heat-sensitive tapes. Inaddi 7 tion, thistermincludes any tape whichadheres to, the r structureto be supported. IReferring now to FIG. 2, the tape and hook combinahesive side is thesame at either end of the central re- V gion:l7 so as to adhere to thestructure to be supported.

As can be seen from the doubleended'arrow 2l, .the hook 16 can bemovedlaterally so as to provide the I proper fulcrum for, the hangingstructure thereby facilitating easy alignment for balancingof a pictureone wall.

7 From FIG. 2 it will be seen-that thetorce of the hook on the tape isshown by the arrow 25 to be in an upward direction. This direction isbiaxial to the length of the continuous tape. It will be appreciatedthat in many of the prior art handles for structures, tape is utilizedin which the force on the handle is along the axis of the tape and notin a biaxial direction as shown in FIG. 2. For the purposes of thisdescription, biaxial refers to a direction in the plane of the tapeperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tape. Thus aforceperpendicular to the plane of the paper on which FIG. 2 is drawn wouldbe excluded from the term biaxial. One advantage of the subject approachlies in the fact that a biaxter, epoxy, or phenolic base materials inwhich the tape is ironed on to the picture. In the first type of tapemen tioned, the pressure-sensitive adhesive adds to the strengthof thecentral twisted region once the tape with the adhesive istwistedxln' thelattertwo types of tape, the centraltwisted region maybe made to adhereto itself prior to use,--by-applying either water or'heat to thecentralregion. This'addsthe stren'gthof the ad hesive to the inherentstrengthof the twisted tape. Under most loading conditions, this. additionalstrengthening is not necessary. In anycase, the tape backingandadhesivje is chosen to be adequate for the load supported. Obviously,adhesive also includes glue I I V and epoxy resins ,which may beappliedto the tape just I prior to mounting. Further; any combination ofthe above tape backingsand adhesives are withinthe scope of thisinvention. 1 r

Referring now to -FIG. 3,the top'viewof the subject apparatus is shownin which the mounting board llis connected to. the hook I6 bythe tape 15formed inthe manner described. It will be appreciated that: the

mounting boardcanbe balanced by moving the book 16 along the centralportion 17 of 1 the .tapelS].

F rom'the foregoing it willbe appreciated thatthere are many typesandwidths of tape which will be suitable depending upon the weight andconsistency of the structure to be mounted adjacent the wall. The systemthus far described relies on both mechanical and adhesive propertiesused in combination so as to support the structures of relatively greatweight as compared to those supportable by hangers having solelyadhesivebacked coacting members.

There are however other configurations of the tape which when twistedupon itself will provide for even greater mechanical stability of themounting.

in combination I In one embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the tape is madeextremely wide except for a central portion 32 having a length denotedby the character L. This figure shows the tape prior to being twisted onitself so as to from the central region 17 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In thisembodiment there is a first width of tape denoted by the symbol W whichis the major portion of the tape to adhere to the structure to bemounted. The central region 32 is to be formed by the narrow portion ofthe tape 15 designated by character W It will be appreciated from thisfigure that the transition between the width W and the width W, iscontinuous as shown by the continuous lines 30. The continuity of theselines prevents shear forces from tearing the tape once the picture ishung.

If additional support is required, the tape may be configured as shownin FIG. 5. In this case, the tape 15 is provided with two biaxial strips35 at right angles to the tape prior to its being twisted on itself.Assuming the tape to be of a quality which does not easily tear, theright angles between the tabs 35 and the tape body will not be a factorin the failure of a system utilizing this type of tape. Again it is thelength L of the tape which is to be twisted on itself to provide thecentral region.

In one further embodiment once the tape is in place on the structure tobe mounted on the wall, additional tape strips 40 may be placed over thetape in a position shown so as to provide increased mechanical stabilityof the mounting system.

It will, however, be appreciated that the strips 40 need not be used ina large variety of cases where the structure to be mounted to the wallis relatively light. Such would be in the case in photographic mountingboard or poster board as it is sometimes called. It is a relativelysimple packaging matter to provide a package in which the far ends ofthe tape can be detached from the majority of the tape so as to providefor the cross pieces 40 as shown in FIG. 6.

There has therefore been provided an extremely easy and inexpensivemethod and apparatus for mounting structures to a wall or verticallyextending structure. The major factors which permit such an easymounting are the structural strength of the tape twisted on itself retearing and also the uncommon resistance of the tape to pulling awaywhen a biaxial force as described hereinbefore is applied to the tape.Further, the central twisted portion of the tape can be made to adhereto itself to provide for increased strength. There should also beconsidered the ease of centering and balancing provided by the methodand apparatus described which is unlike adhesive systems in the priorart. It will be appreciated that tape twisted on itself could bedispensed from a roll in much the same way as cellophane or adhesivetape is dispensed, with a cutting portion of the dispenser serving toseparate the individual pieces of tape necessary for each mountingapplication.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10 an alternative embodiment is illustrated inwhich the narrowed portion of the tape isoverlaid, overwrapped or coatedwith a material which aids in the structural integrity or stability ofthe central portion. This type construction also simplifies manufacturesince the narrowing of the tape at the central portion can beaccomplished at the wrapping stage.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 7, the already formed hanger 50is provided with a helically wound strand 51 which surrounds a generallycylindrical portion 52 formed in any of a variety of ways as will appearhereinafter. As can be seen, tape flat portions 53 adjacent centralcylindrical portion 52 are free of the strand, although the strand endsmay be embedded therein if desired.

Strand 51 may be adhesively attached to the central portion, either byprecoating the strands with a suitable adhesive, or by saturating thestrands after winding.

The central cylindrical portion 52 may be formed in a variety of ways.For instance, the tape may be twisted on itself as in FIG. 8 to form acentral core, with strand 51 overlaying the core. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 9 the tape may simply be collapsed on itself in itscentral region and an overlying material supplied to aid in structuralstability and integrity as well as maintaining the narrowed centralregion in a generally cylindrical configuration.

It will be appreciated, that from a generic point of view strand 51 isan overlying material.

In FIG. 10 the central portion 52 is overlaid with either a coating orcylindrical member 54 which maintains the structural integrity of thecentral core. Member 54 can be a coating, a cylinder crimped oradhesively attached into place, or any member which surrounds the corewhether or not adhesively attached hereto.

Thus the embodiments of FIGS. 7l0, in addition to having all theadvantages of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 also permit certain economiesof manufacture in that the tape can be collapsed or narrowed on itself,with or without an outer winding to provide structural integrity to thehanger.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, itwill be understood that various modifications may be made which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A wall hanger comprising: a strip of tape narrowed on itself in anelongated central region thereof to form a generally cylindricalstructure, flexible means overlying said generally cylindrical structurefor maintaining the cylindrical shape thereof and to facilitatecentering said tape having generally flat portions on either side ofsaid central region adapted to be adhesively affixed to a structure tobe mounted on said wall, said central portion being free of saidstructure and adapted to be engaged at different points along the lengththereof by a protrusion from said wall to facilitate the hanging of saidstructure and adjustment of said structure on said wall.

2. The wall hanger as recited in claim 1 wherein said overlying means isa helically wound strand.

3. The wall hanger as recited in claim 2 wherein said strand isadhesively bound to said generally cylindrical structure.

4. The wall hanger as recited in claim 1 wherein said tape is twisted onitself in said central region.

5. The wall hanger as recited in claim I wherein said tape is helicallytwisted on itself in said central region.

6. The wall hanger as recited in claim 1 wherein said overlying means isa sheathlike member.

7. In a system for mounting pictures on a wall in which said wallcarries a protruding member, means for mounting a picture to said wallcomprising, a piece of adhesive tape twisted on itself in a centralportion and adapted to be affixed to the back of said picture such thatwhen said picture is hung on said protruding memher by means ofengagement between said central portionand said protruding member, abiaxial force is applied to said tape, said picture being aligned withsaid wall by changing the point of engagement between said protrudingmember and said central portion, whereby a stable adhesive-mechanicalmounting system is provided 8. In a system for mounting a member on avertically extending structure and for aligning said member with i saidstructure, in which said vertically extending structure includesaprotrusion thereform, a continuous tape twisted on itself in a centralregion and fixedly attached to said member on opposite sides of saidcentral region, said tape being adhesive to said member,central regionadapted to engage said protrusion at a point along the length thereof soas to mount said member on said vertically extending structure,adjustment of said member being accomplished by changing the point alongsaid central portion engaged by said protrusion, said central regionbeing overlaid with means for maintaining the integrity thereof. r

9. The apparatus recited in claim 8 wherein said means overlying saidcentral portion is a helically.

wound strand.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 9 wherein said strand is adhesivelybound to said central portion.

11. Apparatus for mounting rigid wall hangings to a wall comprising incombination,a member adapted to protrude from said wall, and a piece ofadhesive tape narrowed on itself at a central portion thereof andaffixed to the back of said wall hanging such that adhesive portions ofsaid tape on either side of said central portion contact the back ofsaid wall hanging, said tape running horizontally, with said centralportion adapted to engage said protruding member, a biaxial force beingapplied to said tape when said wall hanging is hung from said protrudingmember, said wall hanging beingaligned with said wall by changing thepoint of engagement between said protruding memberand said centralportion, whereby a stable adhesive-mechanical mounting system isprovided with centering and balancing a function of the length of saidcentral portion and the pointof engagement between said central por tionand said protruding member, and further including a strand helicallywound around said central portion to maintain the integrity thereof. 7

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said strand is adhesively attachedto said central portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said tape includes biaxialportions on either side of saidcentral portionsaidbiaxial portionsbeingadhesive to the back of said wall hanging for additional supportthereof.

14. The apparatus of claim lll wherein said tape is wider outwardly ofthe central portion of saidtape.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the transition from narrow to wideportions of said tape is continu:

16.The apparatus of claim 11 and further including in combinationtherewith separate biaxial adhesive strips positioned on either side ofsaid central portion; 7 said strips adhering to said tape and toportions of the I back of said picture immediately adjacent said tape.

17.,A method for hanging a structure on a wall comprising, affixing aprotrusion to said wall, providinga tape having a narrowed centralposition, overwinding said central portion with a strand, affixing theends of said tape adjacent said overwound central portion to the backofsaid structure, and hanging said structure on said wall with saidoverwound central portion engaging said protrusion.

18. A method for hanging a structure on a wall comprising, affixing aprotrusion.to saidwall, providing a tape having a narrowed'centralportion, overlying saidcentral portion with a flexible structuralsupport means, adhesively affixing the ends of said tape .adja-. centsaid central portion tothe back of said structure, and hanging saidstructure on said wall with said central portion engaging saidprotrusion.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the ends of said tape areoverlaid with biaxial'strips which adhesively. fastening theiends ofsaid elongated'member V to said wall, providing centeringmeans includingan.

elongated member with a flexibleintermediate portion,

tothe back. of said structure while leaving said intermediate portionfree of said'structure, and hanging said structure on said wall'withsaid. intermediate portion engaging said protrusion.

V =l l

1. A wall hanger comprising: a strip of tape narrowed on itself in anelongated central region thereof to form a generally cylindricalstructure, flexible means overlying said generally cylindrical structurefor maintaining the cylindrical shape thereof and to facilitatecentering said tape having generally flat portions on either side ofsaid central region adapted to be adhesively affixed to a structure tobe mounted on said wall, said central portion being free of saidstructure and adapted to be engaged at different points along the lengththereof by a protrusion from said wall to facilitate the hanging of saidstructure and adjustment of said structure on said wall.
 2. The wallhanger as recited in claim 1 wherein said overlying means is a helicallywound strand.
 3. The wall hanger as recited in claim 2 wherein saidstrand is adhesively bound to said generally cylindrical structure. 4.The wall hanger as recited in claim 1 wherein said tape is twisted onitself in said central region.
 5. The wall hanger as recited in claim 1wherein said tape is helically twisted on itself in said central region.6. The wall hanger as recited in claim 1 wherein said overlying means isa sheathlike member.
 7. In a system for mounting pictures on a wall inwhich said wall carries a protruding member, means for mounting apicture to said wall comprising, a piece of adhesive tape twisted onitself in a central portion and adapted to be affixed to the back ofsaid picture such that when said picture is hung on said protrudingmember by means of engagement between said central portion and saidprotruding member, a biaxial force is applied to said tape, said picturebeing aligned with said wall by changing the point of engagement betweensaid protruding member and said central portion, whereby a stableadhesive-mechanical mounting system is provided
 8. In a system formounting a member on a vertically extending structure and for aligningsaid member with said structure, in which said vertically extendingstructure includes a protrusion thereform, a continuous tape twisted onitself in a central region and fixedly attached to said member onopposite sides of said central region, said tape being adhesive to saidmember, central region adapted to engage said protrusion at a pointalong the length thereof so as to mount said member on said verticallyextending structure, adjustment of said member being accomplished bychanging the point along said central portion engaged by saidprotrusion, said central region being overlaid with means formaintaining the integrity thereof.
 9. The apparatus recited in claim 8wherein said means overlying said central portion is a helically woundstrand.
 10. The apparatus recited in claim 9 wherein said strand isadhesively bound to said central portion.
 11. Apparatus for mountingrigid wall hangings to a wall comprising in combination, a memberadapted to protrude from said wall, and a piece of adhesive tapenarrowed on itself at a central portion thereof and affixed to the backof said wall hanging such that adhesive portions of said tape on eitherside of said central portion contact the back of said wall hanging, saidtape running horizontally, with said central portion adapted to engagesaid protruding member, a biaxial force being applied to said tape whensaid wall hanging is hung from said protruding member, said wall hangingbeing aligned with said wall by changing the point of engagement betweensaid protruding member and said central portion, whereby a stableadhesive-mechanical mounting system is provided with centering andbalancing a function of the length of said central portion and the pointof engagement between said central portion and said protruding mEmber,and further including a strand helically wound around said centralportion to maintain the integrity thereof.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11wherein said strand is adhesively attached to said central portion. 13.The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said tape includes biaxial portions oneither side of said central portion said biaxial portions being adhesiveto the back of said wall hanging for additional support thereof.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 11 wherein said tape is wider outwardly of thecentral portion of said tape.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein thetransition from narrow to wide portions of said tape is continuous. 16.The apparatus of claim 11 and further including in combination therewithseparate biaxial adhesive strips positioned on either side of saidcentral portion, said strips adhering to said tape and to portions ofthe back of said picture immediately adjacent said tape.
 17. A methodfor hanging a structure on a wall comprising, affixing a protrusion tosaid wall, providing a tape having a narrowed central position,overwinding said central portion with a strand, affixing the ends ofsaid tape adjacent said overwound central portion to the back of saidstructure, and hanging said structure on said wall with said overwoundcentral portion engaging said protrusion.
 18. A method for hanging astructure on a wall comprising, affixing a protrusion to said wall,providing a tape having a narrowed central portion, overlyingsaid-central portion with a flexible structural support means,adhesively affixing the ends of said tape adjacent said central portionto the back of said structure, and hanging said structure on said wallwith said central portion engaging said protrusion.
 19. The method asrecited in claim 18 wherein the ends of said tape are overlaid withbiaxial strips which adhere to said tape and the back of said structure.20. The method as recited in claim 18 and further including the step ofdispensing said tape from a roll.
 21. The method as recited in claim 20and further including cutting said tape from said roll with a seratededge cutting bar and a shearing action prior to affixing the ends of thetape to the back of said structure.
 22. A method for hanging andcentering a structure on a wall comprising the steps of affixing aprotrusion to said wall, providing centering means including anelongated member with a flexible intermediate portion, adhesivelyfastening the ends of said elongated member to the back of saidstructure while leaving said intermediate portion free of saidstructure, and hanging said structure on said wall with saidintermediate portion engaging said protrusion.